Welcome!

We hope that 2024 is off to a great start! As we step into the new year, our newsletter will provide resources and information on preparing and planning for public health emergencies with a focus on people with Disabilities, Access and/or Functional Needs (DAFN).

We will share the DAFN team's latest happenings, provide opportunities to connect with other community partners, and share upcoming events and volunteer opportunities. Join us in fostering a robust partnership that prioritizes the well-being of our whole community!

Who We Are

The Disability, Access, and Functional Needs (DAFN) unit is housed in the City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Emergency Management Division. We work with community partners and listen to our DAFN community to ensure that their needs are met during public health emergencies.

[Image Description: A team photo of the DAFN team, which includes five women smiling and standing close to one another outside in front of an office building. One woman stands in front of her rollator walker and another uses her forearm crutches. Other staff are standing without mobility devices.]

Our DAFN Team

From left to right - Annerose Penalba, Saturne Sam, Kim Vuong, and Esme Garcia, combine their lived experience with disability to help support and create inclusive and accessible public health emergency plans and protocols for our Long Beach community.

Meet Our Accessibility Advocates!

[Image description: An Asian woman with short black hair is wearing a red blouse, purple cardigan, and silver necklace is smiling in front of a gray background.]

Kim Vuong

Oanh "Kim" Vuong was born in Vietnam and since childhood has lived with cerebral palsy, a condition that has made it a challenge to do many things that other people take for granted, from walking on the beach to speaking to a group. She has embarked on a career helping other people with disabilities lead more independent lives. She has worked at the Tichenor Clinic in Long Beach, where she is the co-developer of life skills classes for teenagers with disabilities. She is also a member of the City of Long Beach's Citizens' Advisory Commission on Disabilities (CACoD), where she has advocated for installing beach mats to enable disabled residents to use the city's beaches.

[Image Description: A white woman with medium length light brown wavy hair is wearing translucent framed glasses, a floral top, and a navy blue jacket is smiling in front of a gray background.]

McKenzie Stribich

McKenzie Stribich (she/her), is a passionate advocate for justice for all marginalized peoples, particularly those who are disabled. She enjoys serving the City of Long Beach, where she was born and raised. She holds a BFA in photography from Cal State University Long Beach, and has worked as a freelance Technical Writer and Editor in business immigration law for several years.

McKenzie is passionate about bringing people together to learn and grow, and led an interfaith learning pilot program at the nonprofit where she previously worked. Her present work with the DAFN team consists of ensuring the city’s public health emergency plans are inclusive of disabled people.

Long Beach DAFN Partnership

[Image description: Esme speaks into a microphone and is standing and providing a presentation in an office setting. In the background, the presentation is projected on the office wall.]

November 15th, 2023 - Community partners convened at the City's Emergency Operation Center to kick off the first DAFN Partnership “Meet-up.” It was a great success and we were thrilled to look at emergency management through the lens of disability and collective impact. We look forward to hosting quarterly Meet-ups in 2024!

The purpose of these quarterly Meet-ups is to create space for our community partners to network, build community rapport, participate in mutual learning, share resources, provide trainings, and ultimately work together to better support our DAFN community during emergencies and disasters. Our partners' expertise and contributions are invaluable to our team.

To stay connected and up-to-date with upcoming Partnership Meet-ups, please visit longbeach.gov/dafn.

Resources

[Image description: The City of Long Beach's Citizen's Advisory Commission on Disability (CACoD) smile and pose inside the Long Beach Civic Chambers.]

Citizens' Advisory Commission on Disability (CACoD)

Have you heard about the City of Long Beach's Citizens' Advisory Commission on Disabilities (CACoD)? The Commission meets on the second Thursday of every month at 1:00 p.m.

Meetings are open to the public and participation is encouraged by attending in person at the City Hall Council Chambers or virtually via Zoom.

Meeting ID: 960 1062 0488

Passcode: 562372

Dial-in: 1-213-338-8477

Learn more about CACoD HERE.

At-Home COVID-19 Tests

As of November 2023, every U.S. household is eligible to order an additional 4 free at-home tests. To learn about how to place your order, click here.

Save the Date!

March 15-17: Abilities Expo

Abilities Expo is the premiere event for the disability community. It is a free 3-day event that takes place in the Los Angeles Convention Center. The event provides the latest products and services, cutting-edge tech, info-packed workshops, adaptive activities and more.

Jennifer Kumiyama, the star of Disney's movie Wish and Long Beach's Citywide Accessibility Coordinator will be there!

Admission is free. Register HERE

Thursday, March 28: Transportation Day 2024

The City's Office of Equity and Citizens' Advisory Commission on Disability (CACoD), along with local partners, are hosting a transportation equity event at the Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library in North Long Beach. The event will provide education on Long Beach's transportation services and will support with the following:

Sign-Up for Dial a Lift
Sign-Up for Paratransit
Learn to map your route on a bus

Registration is required: tinyurl.com/TranspoDay2024

Transportation Day Flyer (English)

Saturday, April 13: Long Beach Adaptive Sports Fair (FREE!)

The Long Beach Adaptive Sports Fair is taking place on Saturday, April 13th from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Long Beach City College Liberal Arts Campus Sports Complex.

Come experience an array of adaptive sports (closed-toe athletic shoes are required) and learn about new resources and vendors.

Registration is required: eventbrite.com/LBASF

Click on the flyers below for the complete list of activities!

English Flyer

Spanish Flyer

2024 Colorado AFN Conference

The Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management is hosting their annual Access and Functional Needs Conference April 9th -11th. The conference is free and can be attended virtually. This year's conference will focus on the "S"--Support Services and Safety Resources--within June Kailes' CMIST Framework.

The conference will provide a better understanding of how to best meet the “S” needs of the DAFN Community during emergencies and disasters.

Stay in touch with the DAFN Unit!

Visit longbeach.gov/dafn or email he-dafn@longbeach.gov

Connect with the @lbhealthdept